And the Wheels Keep Turning

Last weekend was quite an adventure. My boyfriend and I decided we wanted to get some exercise so we rode our bicycles to Akashi to take the Taco Ferry (octopus ferry) across to Awajishima (island). As we approached the ferry terminal I began to get very excited and to my surprise there was a very unique vending machine there that deserves a mention. It was a machine that dispenses fried foods. Everything from french fries and fried chicken, to fried rice and onigiri (rice balls). I have been looking for vending machines that were out of the ordinary since I arrived in Japan, and this one absolutely fit the bill. Gordon promised me that I could get something at the other side of the ferry or on the way back, so I was pumped.

You see, the main reason we were going to Awaji Island was not just to cycle, but also because I discovered the most ridiculous amusement park ever online that we were dying to go to. It is named Onokoro ( which translates to some island place that was created by Isanagi (a hero) when he put his spear into a big ball of clouds and water). But what it is is an amusement park like any other with children's rides, and a giant ferris wheel. However, they also have an around the world section with models of famous monuments from around the world at 1:25 to scale!

If this sounds ridiculous to you, especially on a small island in Japan, you are absolutely correct.

There is a ferris wheel that is in view from Akashi which Gordon and I assumed was the ferris wheel at Onokoro Amusement park. We hopped off the ferry and started our cycle up the very steep mountain to the top. This place was like a maze and the roads were all highways that wrapped around the hill we needed to reach, but none of them led to the summit. When we finally found a small path through an industrial parking lot we reached the top, and to our disappointment, Onokoro was nowhere in sight. We went into the welcome center and took some photos at the look out (especially of the fattest Welsh Corgi I have ever seen.) In the welcome center we grabbed some food, a map, and some ridiculous stickers of what must have been the mascot of Awaji Island.

Upon examining the map, we realized that Onokoro was much further down the island. We asked at the counter and she said that the park was a little less than twenty Kilometers. We decided to try to stick out the ride and go halfway, leaving our bikes at a bus station further down and taking a bus the second leg.

Unfortunately, we passed many many bus stops. Just a little further we kept saying, let's just keep going a little more. We passed a giant abandoned Buddah, a confused restaurant named "America", hundreds of rice paddies, and about 10 produce stands selling the prized Awaji Onions for only 200 yen a bag. We finally stopped at a Family Mart convenience store and asked how far to Onokoro. To our disappointment, she said about 11 KM left. We had already been cycling for about an hour, on our bikes with no gears (well mine has no gears), up and down hills like you can't imagine. I was exhausted, but we were determined and angry so we decided to let our stubbornness get the best of us and keep on peddling.

We finally could see the ferris wheel in the distance and kept it as our goal. Along the coastline we rode with utter disbelief that not only we rode this far, but also that we knew we were going to have to ride back all this way. (I was honestly considering abandoning my bicycle and taking a bus back).

*Side note; Awaji is not a place that people bring bicycles to ride often. It is actually so strange and inconvenient that there is not even bike parking, which is very unusual for Japan. Trains don't even run on this island.

On the approach to the park, we passed a slaughterhouse for the award winning Awaji Beef. Luckily, it was a holiday. Nothing gets me in the mood for a fun filled day at the amusement park like hearing the cows NEXT DOOR crying their way to meat packing plant. From the ferris wheel I am sure you get a nice view right inside.

When we got there it was an hour and a half before closing time and there were the occasional scattered families, but not many people. It is the strangest experience, straight out of a horror movie, when you are at an amusement park with kiddie music in the background and no children. It was deserted. Quite scary.

Finally, we headed back to what we were there for. Monuments. It was as ridiculous as I had hoped and dreamed. Some of the models were amazing, but others needed new paint jobs and some serious renovation. I guess it might be difficult to renovate on a limited budget, since admission was only 800 Yen.

We took our photos and headed back on the long horrible bike ride, in the dark and the rain, with only the small stream of light from our bicycle headlights. In total, we figured it out that we had cycled 60km in one day. It is a wonder I didn't die. Needless to say, we won't be going out again in search of a mystery place with no directions! But at least those vending machine french fries on the ferry back made it all worth it :).